Chapoutier - Ermitage - Le Méal - Blanc - 2002

Wine:

A pure Marsanne, the 2002 white Hermitage Le Méal comes from vines that are over 50 years old and still produce a confidential output. It's a plot selection from the eponymous hillside on very old alluvial soils covered with pebbles, vinified partly in wood in large containers. Without doubt, the most complex of all the lieux-dits, a monster of combined richness and finesse, it delivers the quintessence of the Rhône Valley's great whites, a wine for haute gastronomy that is now fully revealed.

Vinification:

Hand harvested, whole grapes pressed, cold settling for 24 hours.
Aged in barrel.

Color:

Bright golden yellow.

Nose:

Beautiful minerality with fine notes of celery, punctuated by very discreet woody touches.

Palate:

Full-bodied and complex, with delicate fruit, this wine releases juices of great freshness, with a rich, yet delicate structure.

Temperature:

Serve between 10 and 12°C.

Food and wine pairing:

Foie gras, spiny lobster, lobster with beurre blanc, lamprey Bordeaux-style, veal maringo, Saint-Félicien with truffles.

Cellar aging:

From now until 2040, and even longer for enthusiasts.

Michel Chapoutier is the undisputed star of the Rhône Valley, with a phenomenal catalog of vintages to his name. An outstanding ambassador and pioneer of biodynamic viticulture, driven by a vision of great wine, this instinctive winemaker is recognized worldwide. His wines are absolutely consistent, delivering the most accomplished expressions of their respective terroirs. 

Particularly in Hermitage, his terroir of choice, where he makes anthology plot-based wines using biodynamic methods. Summum of complexity and refinement, made for aging, they remain without equal.

Produced in limited, highly-rated quantities, these wines are very difficult to access...